RESIDENTS living near the new home of the merged Wokingham and Emmbrook Football Club have cried foul on the eve of its first home match.

Bosses at the newly-formed Wokingham and Emmbrook FC called a clear-the-air meeting at the Emmbrook Sports and Social Club in response to concerns from neighbours of the club’s new ground in Lowther Road.

With the club’s first home game of the season looming on Saturday, September 4, people living in Lowther Road, Commons Road and Emmbrook Road, are already kicking up a fuss.

They are worried about the potential for increasing spectators at the ground, new boundaries and rumoured additional flood lighting.

Geoff Ridout, commercial manager at the club and director Ady Milne, chaired the meeting with the public.

Alan Croft, who lives in Lowther Road, said people were concerned about an increase in traffic and noise from fans as they support the team.

The club also received criticism from residents about two dugouts that have recently been built in the ground, which they say are out of character and do not have planning permission.

Mr Croft said: “We noticed the dugouts appear and they are extremely high.

“They are concrete blocks with timber roofs, are ugly and obstruct what was a pleasant view across to the cricket pitch and beyond.

“We are not looking forward to the football club creating a commercial operation, charging spectators for admission, resulting in extra fencing, extra car parking and floodlighting.

“There is also the probable construction of a spectator stand.

“Wokingham District Council and Emmbrook Sports and Social Club have enjoyed the use of the facilities for years in a completely reasonable manner.

“Now we will have to put up with more noise, increasing use of foul language, and an increase in the amount of litter blown in to people’s back gardens.”

Mary Clark, of Commons Road, said she thought there was very little space for extra cars, and thought the land should be used “for the people of Emmbrook, not for a commercial outfit”.

The club’s chairman, Mark Ashwell, who was unable to attend the meeting, said he felt confident that some headway was made in ironing out issues.

He said: “The merger with Emmbrook FC was our only option and we are asking the community to look at this as an opportunity.

“The grounds in Lowther Road are entrusted to the people of Wokingham to be used for sports, and that is what they will be used for.

“We decided to call the meeting as we thought it was about time that residents knew what was going on.

“As a club we do not have huge crowds but when we start the new season the grounds will be marshalled and we will control the car parking situation.

“Emmbrook FC has always played there, so there should be no real cause for concern.

“If there is a lot more activity at the ground it will hopefully encourage younger players in the area to play sport, rather than perhaps just hang around.”

Wokingham Town, which used to play in the old Isthmian League, merged with Emmbrook Football Club after it vacated its Finchampstead Road ground in 1999 because of financial difficulties.

Since then the club has ground-shared with Windsor and Eton, Flackwell Heath in Buckinghamshire, and Egham FC last season.

Its first match as Wokingham and Emmbrook FC in the Hellenic League is against Prestwood. There are 17 home games due to be played this season

Emmbrook North town councillor Ray Eke, who lives in Lowther Road, was at the meeting.

Cllr Eke said: “I don’t know why people are concerned about floodlighting as there are limited floodlights there already. “Wokingham Town are in a lower league than they used to be, so there probably won’t be the thousands of spectators people think there will be.

“The boundary fencing does need improving because at the moment its no more than chicken wire, but it will all be worthwhile.

“I for one am looking forward to the season and if gets people out there watching or taking part in sport then all the better.”